“Each family will have access to financial advice from a range of volunteering financial advisers to help with basic finances and budgeting and they will also have the opportunity to benefit from independent living, rehabilitation and counselling services.”

The programme, which was launched in November last year, has brought together 19 insurers to raise awareness and take-up of income protection, working with Disability UK to select seven families from across the country to take part.

Arthritis – one of the worst conditions affecting lifestyle you can imagine and which seems to particularly fall under the radar as far as the NHS is concerned. Affecting women in particular, it is after the cancers and heart attacks the most common cause of long term sickness. It should have a higher profile.